GM Michael's Falcons Hollow Chronicles

Game Master Dread

"Heafing to the creepy witch house? Yeah, I think keeping our eyes out seems like a good idea," Thal says, agreeing with Cathoris.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

could be worse... nothing is trying to kill us yet. He says, looking around, both worried and mildly interested until he hears there is no magic at work.

The group stands ion the flagstones set in the ground approaching the front door of the building. A chimney of stone comes out the left side.. No smoke emits from the chimney...long seconds have passed while the group looks at the building....

Well.

Alex says as he moves to the door.

Nothing getting done standing and gawking.

He will look over the area for any signs of danger before trying to door.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Alexander pauses at the door and looks it over, checking the floor edges, the door latch and see's nothing that would make him scared.

He opens the door and steps inside to take a look around.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Alexander unlatched the rotting door, and pushed it in, showing the corner of a table, and shelves on the wall in front of him. The Dank hut was filled with shadows. Haphazardly hung shelves line the walls, covered in all manner of clay jugs, clouded bottles, strangely cut rocks, rotted bundles of herbs and a museum of other curios and remnants of a bone grinders artifice.

Well, I'm not going to let him there by himself! - says Kronk, coward as someone can be, but summoning courage to step behind the rogue.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Extra +2 if it's dim light inside

Alex moves in to let Kronk in and moves to look through the shelves, picking up the rocks and bottles and trying to determine what they were, and any value they might still carry.

appraise: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Alex crosses the threshold looking around, quickly followed by Kronk. Now they can make out the entire hut. To the left a high backed wicker chair, gigantic curved tusks of some monstrous beast forming the frame, sits next to a table, upon which are more of the same bottles and herb packets as on the shelves. A human figure sits in the chair completely wrapped in filthy cloth. Its form is padded with pungent herbs and sprouting patches of thick white mold.

A bed sits behind it along the wall near a long cold fire place within rests a heavily rusted iron cauldron on legs that look like animals feet. the Cauldron is fairly large, being nearly 5' across and 3' deep, it's ash covered surface shaped with a relief of capering fiends and leering devils.

Alex after a glance begins to move along the shelf looking, he quickly spots a jar labeled 'rats tails' but he also knows there may be many other curios and trinkets along the shelves if he takes the time to search it.

Cathoris recasts detect magic and enters the hut behind Alex and Kronk. He scans the room checking for remaining magic. This is eerie.

Alex pushed a chair next to the table aside and moved toward where he saw the Rat Tail's while eyeing the various items on the shelves.

Kronk moved forward a little looking for threat.

Cathoris moved inside once again looking for any magicked items.

He saw a strong glow from the fireplace where the Cauldron sat and a slight glow peeking through the bottles on the shelf near Alex.

As Alex reached up to pick up the Rats tails, The Cauldron began to animate, its metallic body creaking and groaning with a metal on metal sound.

Initiative- Bold may go
20-Falkwyn
17-Cathoris
16-Cauldron
8-Straug
7-Alexander
6-Thallin
2-Kronk

Well, first, I’d like to try a monster knowledge roll for the animated? cauldron. I’m assuming arcana.

Monster knowledge: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Cathoris quickly thinks what he might know about animated objects.

She would animate the cauldron. Cathoris says with exasperation. They only way I know to stop it is to smash it. And unless one of you has a weapon made of adamantine, I don’t fancy trying to do that. I think we should grab the Rattails and run.

Alex, I spied something magical at the back of the shelf near you. Is it them?

Without hesitation, Cathoris grabs the table and heaves with all his weight to push it toward the cauldron.

Strength?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

I figure the cauldron will have a hard time smashing through the table as we would have smashing it.

Straug has been extremely quiet and at unease ever since coming up on the hut. Standing guard outside the door as the others go in to look for the necessary components he keeps a constant scan on the treeline and visible clearing.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

On hearing the ruckus inside his first thought is that Cathoris fell into a suit of armor.

'Blast it Cathoris be careful the whole forest can hear you!', he yells inside over the noise.

Hearing the drawing of steel and surprised sounds of alarm he realizes something more sinister is afoot and with a quick prayer to Angradd readies himself to enter the hut and confront whatever is inside.

As The Group Gasped when the Cauldron began to come out of the Fireplace Falkwyn came running in and moved to the side of the doorway firing an arrow. The arrow sped forward and chipped a little bit off the lip of the cauldron.

attack long bow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 211d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Cathoris thinking quickly The Shepherd turned Magus, grabbed the edge of the table and pushed it forward trying to slow the advance of the animated Cauldron, things on the table fell over and the chairs were drug along then pushed outward shouting They only way I know to stop it is to smash it. And unless one of you has a weapon made of adamantine, I don’t fancy trying to do that. I think we should grab the Rattails and run.

Alex, I spied something magical at the back of the shelf near you. Is it them? He failed to wedge the Cauldron against the fire place, still it would slow its advance as it tried to squeeze out.

cmb vs Cauldron vs CMD 12: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

The Cauldron pushed back against The Table as Cathoris held it, the mass of the Cauldron was more than Cathoris could hold back, as it moved diaginally past the table and then moved towards the group knocking chairs over to the side.

cmb vs DC 6: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Initiative- Bold may go
20-Falkwyn
17-Cathoris
16-Cauldron
8-Straug
7-Alexander
6-Thallin
2-Kronk

Alex nods and gives a shout to Cathoris. Aye, I think so, grab them and get out, I'll help keep the pot distracted. Besides, if we can best it, we can take our pick of anything here! He says self assured. Kronk, if you'd be so kind good sir!

He then runs by Cathoris, leaps up and springboards off the animated cauldron onto the overturned table before turning and striking a solid blow at the pot. Though wincing slightly, and making a mental note to get a weapon better suited for bashing something when he had the chance.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 move through space

attack,PA,flank,CE: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 2 = 15 AC is 18.
damage: 1d10 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 3 = 13

I think the shelf I moved Thal next to is the one Cathoris mentioned

The thief turned bard turned magus quickly tries to grab what they need from the shelf.

Thallin sees the jar of Rattails. The herbal ingredient they need. behind it he sees a grotesque, amulet like shrunken head with its eyes and mouth stitched shut. Its barely 6" in diameter and attached to a leather thong so it could fit around your neck. He also can make out occasional gems scattered on the shelves.

Kronk attacks the cauldron itself - weird as it would sound. He carefully moves to a flank position before doing so.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 Tumble

Man, that's not the way I like handling my pans! - says the cook, swinging his improvised weapon against the construct.

Back in Shikigami style.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 1 + 2 = 26 PA,Flank - I don't think it truly applies, but...
Damage: 3d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3, 4) + 6 + 3 = 18
Sneak: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Not sure if flank/sneak applies, but anything helps to try to overcome the hardness

Straug, keeps an eye out for danger outside and readies himself to enter if hes needed.

Alexander leaps onto a chair then as it teeters, he springs to the lip of the Cauldron and flips over landing behind it...if theres a such thing as behind with a cauldron...and slashes out. His sword doesnt do as much damage as normal with it, but he does manage to hack through the cauldrons handle on the far side.

Thallin enters and heads to where Alexander was standing and and grabs up the jar of rats tails, then grabs up the interesting looking shrunken head on the leather thong. He knows theres more, to grab, but he pauses for a moment to consider what to go for next.

Kronk moves with amazing agility for his size and rolls over the top of the cauldron coming to his feet and bring the heavy sledge around to slam into the side of the cauldron with a *boooong* putting a hefty dent in the side.

theres nothing in the rules that states constructs cant be flanked or precision damage not harming them.

Initiative- Bold may go
20-Falkwyn
17-Cathoris
16-Cauldron
8-Straug
7-Alexander
6-Thallin
2-Kronk

Well I didnt mean for my last post to be my action for the round it was a delayed post to coming up on the cabin. It seems like the gang has things well sorted with that thing so I can just stand guard in case. I just didnt want you guys thinking I was not helping or standing back. Straug is always ready for a scrap! The round has moved on so I wont post my actions retro its my fault for being late to post on the 'advancing on the hut' phase.

Anyway thats it.

'Youre all clear kids lets blow this thing so we can go home!'

oops sorry

Cathoris watches in awe as his companions tumble around the cauldron. Have you got what we need Thal? he hopes.

Waiting for a response, he grasps his quarterstaff with two hands, breathes a little magic into one end, and swings at the cauldron, but the staff flies above the pot.

quarterstaff w/ +1 enhancement from arcane pool: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 71d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Thal would have grabbed what they needed and as much of the loot as he could grab :=)

The battered cauldron was right next to him with no good place to put distance between he and it, so Falkwyn dropped the bow and pulled his morningstar swinging it as it came off his belt. But the swing was wild and bounced a glancing blow off the cauldron having no effect.

attack morningstar vs ac 14: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 101d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Cathoris, held his staff and looked at it, then it began to glow faintly and he swung it, he couldve swores the Cauldron ducked...as his staff passed over it.

The Cauldron in a target rich environment goes after the big man who hurt it the most. It tilted toward Kronk and tried to bite him with its opening. Kronk backed up half a step as the iron maw snapped in front of him.

who it attacks 1-Alex,2-Kronk,3-Falkwyn,4-Cathoris: 1d4 ⇒ 2
attack vs AC15 damage grab cmd17: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 51d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 41d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Initiative- Bold may go
20-Falkwyn
17-Cathoris
16-Cauldron
8-Straug
7-Alexander
6-Thallin
2-Kronk

Alex tries to get another cut on the pot, but his blow bounces off the wrought iron causing a couple of sparks to fly momentarily.

attack,PA,CE,flanking: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 - 2 + 2 = 11
damage: 1d10 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 3 = 10

Perception for Goodies: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"Got it, let's go!!" Thal calls out as he rushes out of the cabin with his stolen goodies definitely rat tails and the shrunken head, would have grabbed whatever else caught his eye as interesting, magical, unique, useful, or valuable.

Kronk insists as he can, shocked that he's able to flank a kitchen utensil with one of his comrades.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 1 + 2 = 17 PA, Flank
Damage: 3d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 5) + 6 + 3 = 19
Sneak: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Straug finally has enough of all the clanging, grunts and yelling.

'What in the name of Angradd's Anvil is going on in here?!', he yells as he charges in the room, drawing his greataxe.

On seeing an animated cauldron he stares incredulously for a half second and then narrows his eyes and looks at Kronk the Cook. 'Finally a cauldron that tells you what it thinks of your recipes!', he roars good naturedly as he moves to strike.

Move to flank Cauldron
Activate power attack
Greataxe attack on Cauldron

Greataxe power attack with flanking bonus: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 1 + 2 = 14
Greataxe damage: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 3 = 17

Kronk gives the side of the cauldron another serious hit with the sledge that sounds like a gong going off in the woods.

Straug runs in and brings the great axe down on the Cauldron as it was toppling over and gouged through the side of the metal

End Combat

The group takes stock. Thallin stood with the jar of rats tails, a shrunken head on a leather thong, and about 5 gems in his hands. The table is still upright, but Alex pushed it back alomst on the fireplace, jostling half the things upon it to the ground. The 4 chairs around it were knocked about, and the one with the heavily wrapped effigy of a human lay toppled on the floor.

Everyone looks back and forth for a moment, and it doesnt appear any other items in the cottage were going to animate...

Straug looks around at the chaos the room is in and the things in it strewn about.

'Oh good I was worried nobody would know we had been here.'

He rights one of the chairs and plops down onto it, staring confusedly at the cauldron, almost daring it to come back to life.

I think... its dead? Alex gives it a poke with his blade to test. Once satisfied, he glances about the cabin.

And so to the victors go the spoils.

take ten to search the cabin.

While searching, Alex will pause when he comes across the wrapped effigy, upright the chair and place it back in its position. Best not to needlessly risk curses.

besides the 5 small gems that Thallin picked up (value 30 gold), the Magical Shrunken Head, The Rats Tails....Any spell components under 10 Gold can be found here.

Additonally Alex finds some strange herbs and salts in a pouch that Cathoris Identifies as whats needed to summon a familiar, if the person can have a familiar

Cathoris pauses for a moment staring at the former pot.

That was easier than I expected, he admits. He, too, prods the heap of metal with his weapon, making sure the thing was ‘dead’.

I lost my head back there. I wanted to run, and everyone else practically jump into battle..

He looks around at the others as they move to search the hut for other treasures. He takes a breath and says, I’m going to head outside. without explanation.

Outside, Cathoris meanders around the outside of the hut. Half looking around, half lost in his own thoughts. I couldn’t even hit the thing, But I did know what it was. But I didn’t come to the right conclusion. But I saw where the rat tails were. But...

Perception outside: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Looking around, Cathoris sees nothing but foreboding woods. Its getting dark. There doesnt appear to be any threat. Perhaps the legends of the witch keep creatures away.

with the rat tails found, the group has a decision to make. sleep here at the witches hut, or trek in the darkness away from the clearing til they decide a suitable distance has been placed and camp there.

with anything of value stowed away. Alex looks around.

Well... all things considered, I'd guess we should find a spot for the night. A spot some distance away from here. Even if nothing is left here, the sound of us banging an iron pot is likely to attract curious eyes. Alex walks outside and pats Cathoris on his shoulder.

Hey, good job finding the thing we needed. Letting us know what it was was helpful too. You thinking about the noise drawing unwanted guests here too?

Thal looks curiously at the shrunken head necklace and asks, "Is this some sort of magic thing? Figured it would be something magicky what with the witch and all."

Cathoris, pulled from his thoughts, stares blankly at the two before blinking his eyes and responding. Uh, thanks, Alex. I needed to hear that. I don’t know if anyone will come investigate the sound, or be scared away. It seems quieter here than in the forest. As creepy as it is, I wonder if it would be a safe place to stay.

Looking at the item Thallin brought. Now, that’s interesting. Can I take a look, Thal? Cathoris puts his hands together to cast his spell (detect magic), takes the shrunken head into his hands, and looks it over to study it.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Cathoris takes the strange amulet-like shrunken head and turns it over in his hand, muttering an incantation to help identify what it might be. He picked up swirls of purple banded magic, indicating its some sort of glamer, but he cannot figure out what it is.

Straug stands up from staring at the cauldron takes a look around the hut for anything of interest and sees Cathoris puzzling over the shrunken head.

'Oi! This things dead!' He says to the room chuckling while poking it with his greataxe.

He spends some time looking at the effigy and examining it to see if he can determine its purpose.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

After that he walks up next to Cathoris.

'Mind if I help you take a look at that thing lad? Maybe between us we can figure out how much fire we'll need to burn it!'

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

That completed he sees the sun going down and says to the group, 'Well I suppose we should get some rest but I'll be damned if I'm sleeping in this hut tonight its likely to come alive and swallow us whole! What do you lads think? Outside in the clearing ok for us all?'

Straug looks over the effigy carefully and realizes its merely to put fear in folks nothing magical at all.

He helps Cathoris look over ths shrunken head and they cant determine anything more together than Cathoris did apart. aid another went to 14

Ah, oh well, Straug. Thallin, you want to try wearing it around your neck? Cathoris jests. Or maybe a gift for Jarlene. Shame I couldn’t figure it out, though. he things to himself, handing the trinket back to Thallin.

I think that sounds like a fine idea, Straug.

Falkwyn comes outside after collecting his arrows and stands looking around.

He then points to the far side of the clearing where a Half-Orc Huntsman stood with a wolf at his side. The Half Orc held a huge bow made of the tusks of some strange beast.

enter Helgash and Tark

The half orc approached slowly and clearly cautious - he wore a well worn traveling attire which had definitely seen better days, as well as his layered leather armor, and the bear pelt over the strong shoulders. His black hair is disheveled, covering a portion of his face, and matching a poorly kept and also dark shaded beard - probably several... Months old?

The wild half-orc’s heritage is evident from the discrete but clear tusks prominent from his lower jaw, and his occupation is made clear by the fact he carries a couple of small dead animals dangling from his belt, where they are kept company by a long dagger, and a nasty looking morningstar.

What catches your attention however, is the wicked looking wolf that calmly paces next to him - as they approach, the creature’s eyes peer at you, small dots of yellow contrasting with the midnight black fur. Yet there is no aggressiveness in the animal’s posture, even if it walks with a well oiled leather armor, and a spiked collar.

”Well met” - the half-orc stops a few yards away, hand raised in a greeting - ”There is only bad omens to be found in that old abandoned hut” - he adds.

'Bad omens and killer kitchen utensils..', Straug says steadily as he eyes the half orc approaching. His hand isnt on his greataxe but hovering near it.

'What brings you here if the omens are so bad, friend? He says 'friend' heavily to make it clear he isnt sure about this newcomer to both the newcomer and the group.

The cook pulls his sledge ahead, most as of a reflex, as the man and his wolf approaches.

Who are you? - he's a lot more blunt than Straug, and his tone seems to suggest he's getting a little paranoid with the people they're finding around their path.

"I came looking for you" - Helgash replied to Straug - "I already had felt something was off around that camp... Found a few dead animals... Strange tracks in the forest... It felt as if the wild was turning against us" - he added, absently rubbing a wooden symbol of a bow and arrow, which dangles from a cord around his neck.

"In the Hollow I heard about the disease, and that there was someone looking into it, so I decided to follow on your steps" - he nodded.

As Kronk pulled his weapon ahead, the wolf growled. It was a deep, low. Sound. Helgash placed a hand on its flank, and the growling stopped - "I am Helgash. And this is Tark. Who are you?" - he replied.